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What's the meaning of the word 'Piggyback'?
To ride piggyback is to be carried on the back and shoulders of another person. Often, the person being carried is a child, either by an adult or another child. More recently the term has been applied to any person or process that is carried along by another.
What's the origin of the word 'Piggyback'?
Whenever I include a derivation of a single word like piggyback on this site, which is about phrases and sayings after all, I always feel obliged to justify it. As we will see below, 'piggyback' began its life as two words, so let's start from there.
What's the connection to pigs and to other 'piggy' phrases like 'on the pig's back', 'high on the hog' etc? Well, there isn't one - because 'piggyback' has nothing to do with pigs. In the 20th century, we settled on the 'piggyback' spelling, but the term has existed in myriad forms over the years - 'a pick-apack', 'pick-a-back', 'pig-aback' and so on.
The earliest forms of 'piggyback' were the medieval 'pick back' and 'pick pack'. These are cited within a year of each other in the 1560s, both in essays on religious themes:
John Rastell's A confutation of a sermon pronounced by Mr. Juell, 1564 - "What a tale is this, that the oblation of the church should be borne vpon an Angell (on pick pack perchaunce)."
James Calfhill's An aunswere to (John Martiall's) treatise of the crosse, 1565 - "To easy... is that way to heauen, whereto we may be caried a pickbacke on a Roode [a horse]".
The common 'pick' part of these derives from 'pitching', either in the sense of 'placing', as in pitching a tent or 'throwing', as with a pitchfork. 'Pack' and 'back' refer to the load and the place it is carried respectively, and it is clear that 'pick pack' and 'pick back' are effectively the same expression.
Pigs aren't known as beasts of burden, so why 'piggyback'? This appears to be no more than a misstating of the earlier forms of the phrase. Pigs don't get involved until the 18th century, as listed in Robert Ainsworth's, Thesaurus linguae Latinae compendiarius, 1736:
Back, To carry on pig back
'Piggyback' arrives in 1843, in Baynard Rush Hall's The new purchase: or, Early years in the far West, in which Hall recounts a tale of a group of rowdies playing at racing with pigs carried on their back. It's clear from the citation that 'piggy-back' was then a term known to the book's readers:
Meanwhile, two thus doing piggy-back in reverse order, had gradually advanced to the door.
Other 'pig' phrases:
Pig's back - on the
(In a) pig's eye


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Nina Dobrev & Ian Somerhalder: Christmas Tree Shopping!
Ian Somerhalder and his girlfriend Nina Dobrev pick out the perfect Christmas Tree together on Tuesday (December 4) in Atlanta, Ga.
The Vampire Diaries couple pointed out different trees to each other before selecting one – at one point Ian held up some tree to Nina's nose for her to smell!
Unfortunately, that same day, Nina was running a fever!
"Still bed ridden. Not feeling too Hott. Well.. Technically I have a fever so I am hot. But you know what I mean…." she tweeted.
The week before, Nina and Ian, along with their Vampire Diaries co-star Claire Holt, took in a performance of TOTEM by Cirque du Soleil at Atlantic Station in Atlanta. Check out the pics of Ian with some of the performers below!
FYI: Nina and Ian are wearing American Eagle while shopping for the trees.

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Save the Monkeyface!
Despite their funny names, freshwater mussels are important indicators of a river's overall health.
By Wendee Holtcamp
The southeast United States is a global hotspot for freshwater mussels; in fact, it's the most species-diverse region in the world. Nearly 300 mussel species live in our rivers, compared to a slim dozen in all of Europe. They may claim funny names like rock pocketbook, monkeyface, and fuzzy pigtoe, but our freshwater mussels are seriously imperiled. The American Fisheries Society survey found that more than 70 percent of the nation's mussels are endangered, threatened or of special concern, compared to only 7 percent of the nation's mammals and birds. Thirty-five freshwater mussels have already gone extinct in the U.S., with 56 species listed as federally endangered or threatened, and as many additional candidate species awaiting review for listing. We stand at the brink of an unparalleled mollusk extinction, and the declines can be directly attributed to human-induced river modifications. If "Save the Whales" was yesteryear's swan song, perhaps today it's time to proclaim, "Save the Monkeyface!"
I can't often resist the call of a river, so I'm thrilled when offered the chance to kayak the Navasota to look for mussels with a Navasota junior high teacher and five science camp students. Ronald Rushing, or Mr. Rushing, as he's known to his students, has led exploratory kayak trips for the last five summers and has included TPWD's Texas Mussel Watch on the trip for the past three. Nothing inspires a budding interest in science like getting kids muddy and grimy and sampling wild creatures the way biologists do.
"You have to get kids outside to experience nature if you want them to appreciate the natural world," Rushing says of his annual kayak trips. "It's the best way for me to make ecology relevant to a handful of kids."
Rushing is one of a few dozen teachers and individuals trained to search for and monitor mussels along Texas riverbanks for TPWD's Texas Mussel Watch, one of several Texas Nature Tracker programs. TPWD staff train volunteers like Rushing in day-long workshops. They learn about mussel biology, about mussels' imperiled status and the reasons for their decline. Then workshop participants try out their mussel identification skills in a field excursion. After training, volunteers monitor a local stream and report their findings back to headquarters.
"Texas Mussel Watch has been a challenge," program director Marsha Reimer tells me. "It's not a warm and fuzzy watch like some of the other programs. They're not cute like horned lizards, they're not beautiful like butterflies, and they're difficult to get to. It's not something that you can hand someone a monitoring packet and say, 'Here, go monitor mussels.'"
The real possibility of finding a rare species of mussel in a watershed overshadows the challenges. Biologists are concerned about over half of Texas' 52 mussel species, and several species are found nowhere else in the world, including the Texas fatmucket, golden orb, Texas pimpleback, Texas fawnsfoot and triangle pigtoe. Since biologists don't have complete information on distribution and population levels for many species, monitoring any Texas stream could reveal vital information. Determining what species reside where, monitoring their populations, and watching for mass die-offs are crucial first steps in conservation.
Texas Mussel Watch volunteers have already increased the scientific knowledge of mussel distribution throughout Texas. Junior high teacher Melba Sexton found a golden orb in the San Marcos River, a Texas-endemic species known only from a handful of populations around the state. Rushing's Navasota River expeditions have also met with success. Reimer went with Rushing last year on his annual trip, and knew they'd found a mussel haven. "There are so many mussels in that river it's absolutely amazing," Reimer says. "So many rivers where we've collected, the mussels are gone."
We paddle down the muddy brown Navasota for a few miles. There have been heavy rainfalls this year, which can churn up sediment, but I wonder whether the river was always this muddy, or whether human activities have significantly changed the watershed. When erosion, runoff or dam construction cause increased amounts of sediment to flow into or pile up in streams that used to run clear, the fauna within often can't adapt to the rapid changes.
"Habitat degradation is probably one of the biggest concerns when it comes to things like mussels because they can't get up and run away," says TPWD aquatic biologist Dick Luebke. "So many rivers have impoundments on them, and that changes it from flowing to standing water. Historically, we didn't have lakes. The entire state had flowing water. And that throws a curveball at species."
The Navasota has a single dam, upstream of where we're paddling. Dams create a multitude of problems for mussels. Upstream, dams cause decreased dissolved oxygen, reduced water flow, and lower algae populations, which mussels filter-feed on. In a reservoir, water flow ceases and sediment piles up. Many mussels can't live in mushy soft substrates. Besides losing habitat, mussels can suffocate in the increased sediment load. For organisms that adapted over millions of years for flowing water, changes to a river's flow regime can spell disaster.
"Many of the species that are 'of concern' need flowing water at some point in their life," says TPWD aquatic biologist John Prentice, who works with Luebke at Heart of the Hills Fisheries Research Science Center. As sensitive species disappear, a region becomes dominated by a few common species. Exotic species get a foothold, like the Asian clam, which has invaded all Texas' major river systems.
In this Garden of Eden for mussels, is it tolerable to accept having a few resilient species and let the rest go the way of the dodo bird? Preserving our natural heritage for its own sake might be reason enough, but simply having biodiversity serves an important function. "Species diversity tends to increase stability in the ecosystem," explains Prentice. "A stable ecosystem is better able to withstand various and varying stresses." Healthy ecosystems also provide benefits to people. "Although some of us think of ourselves as above the ecosystem, we are not," Prentice notes. "Our health and well being is connected to the health and well-being of the ecosystem."
Dams affect mussel habitats downstream as well, causing an unstable zone of underwater erosion (scour) caused by the rapid flow immediately below the dam. At the Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande, scientists documented more than 4 meters of accumulated sediment downstream, which destroyed mussel habitat and reduced fish diversity and abundance. Changes to the fish fauna affect mussels because mussels require a fish host to disperse their young. Mussels have an extraordinary life cycle. It might look like a rocky lump, but inside that mussel shell lies a mighty surprise.
Mussels extend a part of their body outside their shell as a lure to attract fish. The lure, formed from a fleshy part of the mussel called the mantle, can be incredibly realistic. Some look like worms that waver in the flowing water, while others resemble small minnows. Since mussels can't move far, they've solved the evolutionary puzzle of how to disperse by having their larvae, called glochidia, piggyback on the gills of fish. When a fish takes the bait, it gets a mouthful of glochidia instead of a meal.
Scientists used to think the mussel larvae parasitized the fish host, causing them harm, but recent studies have found at least some fish species benefit from the glochidia, making it more of a symbiotic relationship. When the glochidia attach to a fishes' gills, it initiates an immune reaction, which apparently guards against other infections. Many mussels require a specific fish species for their larval stage, and if that fish disappears from a river drainage, mussel species that depend on it will eventually disappear too.
Rushing, the kids and I bank our kayaks at a gravelly sandbar to look for mussel shells. As the kids explore the sandbar, Rushing shows me the common shells scattered among the gravel, sand and clay. The abundant threeridge grows to nearly 9 inches across and like its name, has three distinct ridges across its dark shell. The slightly less common washboard looks similar but has more ridges, like an old-fashioned washboard. The fragile papershell breaks easily and has a smooth, sandy yellow shell. The mapleleaf has a pimply shell, while the smooth pimpleback has none. Non-native Asian clams are everywhere.
Who came up with these names? I think to myself. Pistolgrip. Deertoe. Pimpleback. Little Spectaclecase. Heelsplitter. I can just picture Billy Bob and George in overalls mucking through streams. "Hey George, look at this 'un. Looks like a rock pocketbook!" as he slips the mussel in his back pocket in jest.
"Most common names you'll see used come from the shellers that were collecting shells for the pearl button industry," explains Arthur Bogan, a research associate with the American Museum of Natural History. My mental image of mussel-naming may not be far off base.
Until the plastics industry replaced shell buttons in the mid-1900s, shellers harvested mussels by the thousands. The buttons were punched out of the mother-of-pearl from the inside of mussel shells, which varies from pure white, once favored for buttons, to pearly pink, purple, peach, or silver-gray, depending on species. This same material, also called nacre, creates pearls.
Freshwater mussels have a long history of importance to humans. Large middens, or shell mounds, can be found in archaeological sites in the southeast U.S. where Native Americans lived. Not only did Native Americans eat mussels, but they used pearls for ornamentation and for trade.
Pearls develop more frequently in certain mussels than others, such as the pearly mussel family (Margaritiferidae) but also species in the Unionidae family such as the washboard and Tampico pearlymussel. Natural pearls only form in a small percentage of individuals, and often they stay attached to the shell. The pearl industry overcame these difficulties by developing pearl culturing, in which a round object, or nucleus, is inserted into a living mussel. Today, commercial musselers harvest washboard, threeridge and mapleleaf shells to create bead nuclei for pearl culturing. An AMNH traveling pearls exhibit on marine and freshwater pearls recently visited the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
In Texas, an industry grew up around so-called Concho River pearls in San Angelo. First noticed by Native Americans and later by Spaniards, the pearls still provide an economic boon to the region. These unique pink and purple pearls form in the Tampico pearlymussel, a species found only in Texas and northern Mexico. Some believe that the Spanish crown jewels include Concho river pearls. Unlike many other species, Tampico pearlymussels are relatively common and not currently a species of concern.
At the sandbar I notice an exposed group of about a hundred large mussels, mostly dead, and I ask Rushing if it's unusual. "Mussels are indicator species. They're like the canary in the coal mine," Rushing explains to me as well as the students. Since mussels feed by siphoning algae out of water, they are vulnerable to pollutants such as agricultural runoff.
The students lay out orange squares in a line, each 10 steps apart, and count half-shells and whole shells and identify the species present. This standard sampling method provides a way to compare from site to site, or from year to year. As the kids count shells, Rushing mentions that the water dropped a full foot from yesterday, when he took a separate group of students on the river. Rapid changes to the water level can kill mussels because of their low mobility. Although mussels do have a foot, they can't move far, and when the water level drops they become easy prey for raccoons or other scavengers. Most likely the rapid water-level drop killed the mussels.
As we head back out onto the river, I think about the myriad challenges mussels face from so many directions, and I wonder, what it would take to reverse the trend?
"One is the need to improve riparian buffers, control erosion and improve land management practices in construction, farming, and silviculture," says Bogan. Riparian buffers are forested strips along riverbanks, and they protect streams from excessive runoff, cool the water and provide organic matter via falling limbs and debris, which helps drive the aquatic ecosystem. "Clean water is critical to the survival of freshwater mussels. Recovery of the waters will assist with the recovery of the freshwater mussels and fishes, as long as they have refuge populations they can expand outward from."
Besides destroying mussel habitat, dams prevent the migration of anadromous host fish, those that spawn in the ocean but live in rivers, and this affects any mussel species whose larvae depend on them. "If you put in a dam, that migration can no longer occur," Bogan continues, "It's only a matter of time before a mussel species depending on such fish disappear. Removal of dams would facilitate the movement of fishes and the recolonization of areas where the mussels have been extirpated."
Though lack of information should not be an excuse for not conserving, research provides an integral component of conservation. "There's a great need for further research on the basic biology of freshwater mussels, their physiology, ecology, and role in nutrient cycling, since they are very long-lived invertebrates. There is the need to better understand and determine fish hosts for native species," urges Bogan.
TPWD just instituted a grant with two universities to help expand knowledge of mussel populations, but budgets are not infinite. Reestablishing species requires money and know-how. "The mussels we know least about are the rare or endangered species," says Prentice, "and they are the most difficult to study because of their limited numbers."
For species on the brink of extinction, scientists in other states are developing captive propagation methods, so they can reintroduce mussels where they once lived. In Texas, captive rearing could become a tool for working with mussels-in-decline in the future, says Prentice. "The habitat needs to be there to support any mussels we might someday want to reintroduce, so we work at land- and water-use practices that can enhance river/stream flow and natural setting, stream bank stabilization, river rehabilitation, and water allocation."
Paddling slowly down the Navasota River in the still quiet of the morning, you can almost forget that a world exists beyond the banks. The river's world is a quiet one, punctuated with an occasional cicada song or the plunk of a snake dropping from an overhead tree. I think about the great loss we endure when species as interesting as mussels disappear — the colorful pearls, the unusual shells, the hilarious names, the history. Mussels have so many adversities to overcome — exotic species, pollution, sedimentation, dams and other river modifications — it seems understandable that species diversity has plummeted, and of the lineages that remain, many struggle to keep their place in the tree of life.
It's easy to understand why people don't know much about mussels. They live hidden lives buried under the riverbank. They look like bumpy rocks, and not many people care when they silently disappear, species by species, from a river.
For more information about the Texas Mussel Watch program, visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/nature/education/tracker/mussels/.


text: Get ready to smear your face in something brown, scented, and oh so delicious! The Reese's PB Cup Lip Balm is here! It's just so good we can't take our eyes or lips off it. True to its originator, it has every quality in line from the brown, buttery texture to the crisp, chocolaty scent. Everyone's going to want to make-out with you, sorry but it's the truth. Just let it happen because sharing is caring and you're truly lucky to have Peanut Butter Lips. Just apply smoothly and evenly to your Lips and brave whatever comes your way. - One Lip Balm per package. - Chocolate Peanut Butter Scented. Not for Eating, keep out of reach for children under age 8.


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At the opening of hostilities, a nonbelligerent state generally issues a proclamation of neutrality. It is then the duty of the neutral power to observe strict impartiality in its relations with the warring nations. However, absolute neutrality is not always the reality, and the terms
Neutral duties and rights were codified or incorporated in treaties and thus became part of international law. The Declaration of Paris (1856) standardized certain laws of neutrality (see Paris, Declaration of); the Declaration of London (1909) codified certain principles of neutrality with regard to maritime law (see London, Declaration of). At the Second Hague Conference (1907), neutral rights and obligations were defined in two conventions. The general neutrality convention, after declaring neutral territory inviolable, laid down regulations for neutral states and listed acts that should not be regarded as favoring one of the belligerents. The convention on neutrality in naval war, which was fuller, elaborated upon the duties of neutrals but did not incorporate rules for contraband and blockade.
In World Wars I and II, violations of neutrality by both sides were frequent, and attempts were made to justify the action by assertions that changed methods of warfare warranted changes in the observance of international law. When the League of Nations was established, it was generally recognized that member states could not be neutral in any dispute in which the League called upon them to intervene. The United States, which was not a member, asserted its intention to remain aloof from all wars and adopted (1935) the Neutrality Act. The United Nations, unlike the League, includes all the major world powers. Their obligations under the charter to restore and maintain the peace preclude neutrality, and neutral states, such as Switzerland, cannot become active members. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 provide a role for neutrals in the administration of prisoner-of-war agreements.
The 1794 Neutrality Act forbids U.S. citizens from taking part in military action against any country with which the United States is not at war. Enforcement of the act has been highly selective, however, with technical reasons usually offered for failure to prosecute. The United States has not declared war on anyone since World War II and has thus been legally neutral throughout such episodes as the Korean War, the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba (1961), and the Vietnam War. U.S. citizens have also often fought under the flags of other nations.
See E. Karsh,
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: International Law


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China tightens regulations for online films
By LOUISE WATT
Associated Press
BEIJING — Chinese authorities are requiring makers of online films to gain licenses and report their content before it is posted, tightening regulation of what in recent years has been a more freewheeling genre than China's traditional film industry.
China's online video sites have provided an accessible platform for filmmakers of all kinds to post their work, often of shorter form than those in traditional cinemas. Microfilms, often produced by amateurs and students and increasingly by professional companies, have exploded over the past few years, stretching the boundaries of what can be shown.
This week's update of a two-year-old regulation on the supervision of online dramas and microfilms has raised fears of stifling creativity. The broadcast administration now requires content makers to register with their real names, production companies to obtain operating licenses and report their content before it is put online, and video-hosting companies to keep records of uploaded content.
The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said the purpose is to improve supervision of the Internet, cultivate a "healthy and civilized" online environment and prevent programs with excessively sexual and violent content from having a harmful influence on society.
Wei Jiangang, who makes microfilms with homosexual themes, said the industry depicts a multitude of topics and the government considers some — such as sex and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender themes — "very sensitive."
"The only purpose of such a policy I think is to affect the creativity of microfilm-making, and bring it into the regular censorship system so as to carry out ideological control of this gray area of online video," Wei said. "In cyberspace, there are loads of various opinions and voices, so the government surely doesn't want the online video market to escape censorship."
According to previous regulations, violators face fines of 20,000 RMB ($3,300) to 50,000 RMB ($8,200) and costs for possible damages, while they may also be punished for a criminal offense if a crime is found to have occurred.
Broadcasting authorities already were required to censor uploaded content and faced regulations against sexually explicit and violent content, territory microfilms have strayed into as they chase viewers.
The new, tighter rules follow a more general crackdown on online expression. Since the summer, authorities have arrested dozens of people for spreading rumors, created penalties for people who post libelous information and told celebrity bloggers to guard the national interest.
Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting, a Beijing-based internet and mobile research company, said the updated regulation "is definitely more limiting" to microfilm makers.
"Among other things they have to now get a license which they are not assured of getting," he said. "And even if they get a license it means that they still need to clean up their content and as such it will probably be less attractive. Sex and violence both sell."
Online sites, including Youku Tudou, iQiyi and Sohu, declined to comment.


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Foster the People is one of the hottest new indie pop groups to take the music world by storm. Founded recently in 2009, it is not often a group rises to such fame almost overnight. Foster the People became a viral sensation in 2010 following their song "Pumped Up Kicks". They signed to Columbia Records and took off with performances at Coachella 2010 and South by Southwest in Texas. Their debut album Torches, released May 2011, became both a radio hit as well as No. 1 on Billboards Alternative Songs charts, and No. 3 on both the Rock Songs Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. Foster the People also made charts on the Adult Top 40 and Mainstream Top 40 Charts.
Lead singer of Foster the People, Mark Foster, was raised in Cleveland. He moved to Los Angeles after High School where he struggled in the alternative music subculture, working odd jobs, and drug addiction. When he was twenty-two Foster was signed with Aftermath Entertainment but that quickly fell through. He became a commercial jingle writer for Mophonics in 2008. He credits his musical revival and inspiration to learning what works in the commercial world. He also states the experience invigorated his confidence in his musical abilities as he successfully wrote hip hop songs then electronic songs, spiritual songs, classical piano, and more. This wide range of exploration also led to his unique musical styling's with Foster the People.
After their debut tour in 2010 and not much stage experience, Foster the People released their first album in 2011, Torches. They also performed at Coachella 2011. After cutting their teeth on live acts and performances, Foster the People is looking at a full 2012. Already the band has been nominated for Grammy and Brit Awards in 2011 and 2012. With tour dates scheduled through August 26th 2012, Foster the People has scheduled two performance dates in Los Angeles, with a June 29th date at the Greek Theatre and June 30th/July 29th performances at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Don't miss your chance to see Foster the People life in Los Angeles by ordering your Greek Theatre Foster the People tickets and Gibson Amphitheatre Foster the People Tickets. Barry's Tickets works hard to carry exclusive tickets to the hottest Foster the People shows nationwide and now you can order yours today!


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Duff McKagan's bass-playing resume is as impressive as they come. Not only is he a fully paid-up member of Velvet Revolver, he was one fifth of the 'classic' Guns N' Roses line-up. Fans of Appetite For Destruction will know that this fact alone deserves some serious respect.
McKagan survived 13 years of GN'R, before quitting in 1998, a few years after his pancreas exploded due to acute alcohol and drug-induced pancreatitis.
On a lighter note, not many people could claim that their profanity-filled acceptance speech forced all future 'live' awards shows to be broadcast with a delay. You can watch a video of Duff and Slash making history while collecting the gong for Favourite Heavy Metal Band at the American Music Awards in 1990.
Your questions
While the search to find a new Velvet Revolver singer marches on, Duff took the opportunity to revisit his side project: Loaded. Fresh from a European tour, he's taking time out to talk to MusicRadar and we're giving you the chance to ask the questions…
Simply add one to the comments below (you'll have to be registered and logged in to do so). We'll pick the best and ask them during the interview.


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For major league baseball fans, this next week is an important one. Pitchers and catchers report for spring training and players at the rest of the positions follow suit in the coming weeks. But each year, hundreds of baseball fans get an even earlier start…at baseball fantasy camps. KBIA's Ryan Famuliner is one of those people. He shares his story of a week of baseball spent in Surprise, Arizona.
It just sounds so good, at least to me and the other 71 campers out here. The repetitive smack of the ball hitting the mitt. Finally, the crack of the bat. Then anticipation, what will happen? He dropped it. At fantasy camp, there are a lot of errors. Alan Fuchsman, a 56-year-old from Kansas City at camp for his seventh time explains:
"There's guys that don't get a hit all week. I think they have as much fun as anybody. So it's not about ability. Obviously, if you watch me play."
At fantasy camp, for a week, you're a baseball player. You put on a uniform with your name and number on it, go out to morning stretches, and then play 7-inning games every morning and afternoon.
51-year Tim Clark is here for his second year: "Obviously we're not kids anymore, and we're not as good as we used to be, but it's so much fun at least to replicate it. You know it truly gives you that fantasy that says, you know what, hey, this would be cool if this was my job."
37-year-old Wes Campbell is here for the first time. He's a little jittery.
"Just trying to relax, cause you're so nervous. You want to do well. You've only got a few days to prove yourself and play well,"
Why's he trying to prove himself, though? I mean it's just baseball, right? Well, yes, but you're playing it in front of the guys you grew up watching.
This is the Kansas City Royals fantasy camp. Fans from all over the country, but mostly from the Kansas City area, come to Arizona for it–even some fans that are in their early 80s. Most teams in the majors hold these camps each year, and retired players come back and serve as coaches.
All the guys you've heard from so far ended up on the same team–and the three coaches were all former Royals: Bill Pecota, a utility infielder, John Wathan, the "Duke," a catcher and former Royals Manager, and third baseman Major League Hall of Famer George Brett.
49-year old Rob Berryhill ended up on this team too. "My son's middle name is Brett, so you can kind of image who I wanted to meet or get a chance to play with."
George Brett says, while they're the coaches, it's mostly up to the players to determine how the games go.
"It seems to me our team always has the most fun. We let them play wherever they want to play. I don't care if you can play or not, go out play shortstop. You guys are the ones that paid the money and you should get to do what you want to do, play the position you want to play."
But this is just part of what happens at fantasy camp. Bill Pecota explains, you find out even more about what it's like to be a ballplayer.
Just like camp when you were a kid, you sit around and make new friends with other campers. But then, the retired players grab a beer and sit down next to you. Start sharing stories about their days on the field. And it's surreal, but these guys get to know your name. It's a chance for them to also get to hang out with some of their old ballplayer friends, and just be regular guys for a week.
Six of the players on this team had such a good time together the year before, that they came back. Two of the newcomers, Curtis Johnson and Rich, have been friends for about 30 years.
"I've probably been nagging him about 7 or 8 years, back when I originally heard about it. And he was always a wimp," said Johnson.
"I don't know, I just never felt like maybe I was good enough athletically to do that, and it was kind of a bucket list item for him. Finally this year I decided to come and also bring my son along as well, so the three of us kind of went out there together."
Father and his grown-up son, well a grown-up that wants to play baseball all week. But father and grown-up son playing catch during warm ups all week, cheering each other on in the field, hitting behind each other in the order, drinking beers in the clubhouse, and then reliving it in all in the hotel room–one night talking for so long that that they all of a sudden realize their wake up call is just a few hours away.
Rich is my dad. And those were the things we did.
On the next to last day, each team of campers gets to play against the old pros for a few innings–in the main stadium the Royals use for spring training games. Wes pitched for the first time since he was a kid.
"Walked off the back of the mound, took a deep breath, came back up, toed the rubber, and Jermaine Dye is standing in the batter's box staring at me. I think I needed some new underwear at that point."
Dye got on… and ended up getting to third. I was catching, and that meant if a ground ball was hit, I'd need to step out and be ready to block the plate and try to tag Dye, the 6 foot 5 inches, 245 pound MVP of the 2005 World Series, and I was wearing a wireless microphone that would surely be destroyed.
I wasn't actually upset that ground ball got through the infield. My wife was in the stands, and I didn't want her to see me decapitated.
Later, Wes managed to get Frank White, whose number is retired with the Royals, to ground out to end the inning.
"Yea, I never was good enough to play in anything, I gotta tell you, it's been incredible out here. I think I've played about the best baseball I've ever played in my life. "
So you get some stories of your own to tell over a beer later–on the field and off. Like one night, our team went out to dinner.
Campbell, Clark, Berryhill, Johnson and Rich Famuliner tell the story:
"We're sitting in this little dive Mexican joint."
"Drinking some margaritas and beer,"
"all of a sudden this dude comes out of nowhere."
"Guy was challenging everyone to arm wrestle, 500 dollars a wrestle."
"He started directing some questions, aren't you George Brett?"
"It was more of, dude was trying to give him a bunch of crap."
"Then he says to John Wathan, he says something like, well who are you, the batboy?"
"And the look on Duke's face was priceless, he looked like steam was gonna come out of ears."
"At that point, John Wathan said, well why don't you just get the bleep out of here?"
"And then there was somebody to my right that pushed him, and then"
"There was two campers, and then four campers, and then 8 campers, and then."
"The manager, the owner of the restaurant comes over and says, you know, sir you, need to leave."
"He was escorted to the door by us fantasy campers, but uh."
"You know I got back to the hotel that night, and I thought, you know, this is a little realistic exposure to major league life that I never expected when I came here. He's just out with his buddies, having dinner, and then somebody decides that that's their opportunity to be a big shot."
We sure weren't Hall of Famers on the field, but that night we got to see what it's like to be one off it. How else would you ever experience that? This one night alone would be like a dream for Royals fans.
Then, before you know it, you're back to regular life. The fact that you were 3-for-4 and tagged that guy out at home last game, isn't that important to those people whose emails you ignored last week. After all, it was just a fantasy. But there was some reality mixed in, too.


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The search for a missing family in Oregon got a high-tech assist from the cellular phone system - which helped searchers focus in on the snowy mountain road where the mother and her two children were found on Monday. But like other aspects of this survival story, the saga of cell-phone salvation appears to have depended as much on a stroke of luck as on the technology itself.
The tale hasn't come to a happy ending yet: Yes, Kati Kim and her two daughters, 4-year-old Penelope and 7-month-old Sabine, were rescued after being stranded for nine days in their car. (It's fortunate that Kim was able to breast-feed both children to keep them going through the ordeal.) But James Kim, who set out to look for help two days before the rescue, is still missing.
The fact that anyone was rescued at all could well be due to the cell-phone angle: When Eric Fuqua, an engineer at Oregon-based Edge Wireless reviewed the company's records, he found that a "ping" from the Kims' cell phone had been detected at a signal tower near Glendale in southern Oregon at 1:30 a.m. PT Nov. 26. That particular tower could even determine the westerly region from which the signal came.
"We were actually able to identify that piece of the pie," Donnie Castleman, the president and chief executive officer of Edge Wireless, told me today.
The clue wasn't conclusive: The engineers could only sketch out an area roughly 26 miles on a side in Oregon's rugged Josephine County. A computer model helped narrow down the area further, based on the roads and terrain. All that helped concentrate the search - and eventually, a helicopter pilot spotted Kati Kim unfurling an umbrella as a distress signal.
Inspector Angela Martin, who led the San Francisco police's investigation, had high praise for Fuqua's detective work. "As far as I'm concerned, he's a hero to me," she told The Associated Press.
So does this mean you can always rely on your cell phone to let the authorities know where you are in the event of an emergency? Not really. But if you're heading down a dark and lonesome highway, you might want to try making a call or sending a text message every once in a while - just in case.
Even when you're not using your cell phone, the device periodically sends signals to cellular towers as you move from area to area. That "Here I Am" signal, or ping, is transmitted periodically as long as the phone is turned on, just so that the network knows how best to connect with your phone.
Theoretically, the network operators could look through their registry records to track a cell phone user on the basis of those pings. But in the Kims' case, that signal alone wouldn't have saved them. Castleman explained that there are just too many registry-related pings for his company to keep track of - and for that reason, the registry records aren't stored.
"This was really tied to the fact that a text message had been at least partially delivered," Castleman said. Edge Wireless did keep a record of the ping confirming message delivery, and that's what left a trace for the searchers to follow.
Cell phones - and cell-phone networks - are getting increasingly savvy about figuring out locations, in response to a mandate for enhanced 911 services, or E911.
"911 is a very early leader in location-based technology," said Doug Kroupa, an Illinois-based consultant who's working with AT&T on services related to emergency response and public safety.
In many areas, the network can figure out where you are by triangulating your signal from multiple cell towers. "You can generally figure out where you are to the length of a football field or two," Kroupa said.
And if you have a GPS-enabled phone, some cell networks can locate you spot-on.
Of course, there could be a downside to having your phone network know where you are. Privacy advocates worry that such services could turn your phone into a surveillance device, and earlier this year there was a huge controversy over the sale of ill-gotten phone records for all sorts of potentially nefarious purposes.
But when you're in a jam, the cell phone could turn into your best option for a lifeline, as detailed in this CNet report published today. With that in mind, here are a few tips from Castleman and Kroupa about road emergencies in general, and cell phones in particular:
- Consider a GPS-enabled phone the next time you upgrade your cell service, Kroupa said.
- When selecting a service provider, look for the one that provides the best signal strength and call quality, Castleman said.
- Keep your phone fully charged, and if you're in a place where you don't need the cell phone, switch it off to conserve power for when you do need it. Castleman said he's sometimes guilty of not following these rules. "We tend to charge our batteries once a week," he said.
- "Know the road that you're on," Kroupa said. That may mean taking note of the mile markers as you're rolling along - or at least being able to describe the terrain to a 911 operator if you're able to call in.
- In that same vein, be conservative about where you're driving. Many folks have noted that the road where the Kims ended up is a nice shortcut in the summer, but virtually impassable in the winter. "That's a very, very remote part of the state," Castleman said. "They don't call it the Rogue River Wilderness Area for nothing."
- "The biggest thing is, don't panic," Kroupa said. "More often than not, staying with your vehicle will help you be located much more frequently."
Update for 5 p.m. ET Dec. 6: The news came out just a while ago that James Kim was found dead in the mountains - a tragic end to the family's survival tale. My condolences go out to the family and all the searchers who worked so hard to save the Kims, including the techies. I happened to be sitting in the chair to talk about this case on MSNBC when the news broke ... you can check out the cable-TV clips here (before we heard about James Kim's death) and here (afterward).


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BMW EfficientDynamics in the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé.
The sportiness of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is always accompanied by outstanding efficiency. This is a result of BMW EfficientDynamics, a comprehensive package of measures and technologies that increase dynamics while, at the same time, reducing emissions. The special aerodynamics catch the eye immediately, but there are also many other technologies working away in the background. They make their presence felt in the form of reduced fuel consumption and increased driving pleasure.
Automatic Start/Stop function
The Automatic Start/Stop function makes sure that fuel is only used when the car is actually driving. When the vehicle comes to a temporary standstill, for example at traffic lights or in stop-and-go traffic, the Automatic Start/Stop function saves fuel by switching off the engine as soon as the car is idling and the foot is off the clutch (manual transmission), or when the car brakes to a complete standstill (automatic transmission).
A signal in the Info Display indicates that the Automatic Start/Stop function is active. As soon as the clutch is pressed (manual transmission) or the foot taken from the brake (automatic transmission), the engine turns itself back on automatically.
The Automatic Start/Stop function never compromises driving comfort and safety, as it remains inactive if the engine has not reached its ideal running temperature, the interior has not yet been sufficiently heated/cooled, if the battery level is too low or if the steering wheel is being turned. A central control unit restarts the engine if required, even when the car is at a standstill. For example, if the car starts to roll forward or if the windscreen becomes foggy. The Automatic Start/Stop function can be switched off at any time with the push of a button.
Brake Energy Regeneration
Every time you brake, kinetic energy is generated, and until recently, this energy has gone unused. Brake Energy Regeneration takes advantage of this long-overlooked potential. It harnesses the coasting energy that is generated whenever the driver brakes or takes their foot off the accelerator and turns it into electricity. This electricity is then used to charge the car battery. The intelligent energy management system means that the alternator no longer needs to run permanently, which reduces the strain on the generator. The result is reduced fuel consumption and increased performance which is typical of BMW EfficientDynamics.
Optimum Shift Indicator
Optimal, perfectly-timed gear changes can help save fuel, particularly in urban environments and over long distances. The engine's electronics system identifies the most efficient gear based on the driving situation and engine speed, translating optimal gear changes into less fuel consumption. An arrow lights up in the Info Display to show when it would be more efficient to shift into a higher or lower gear. The system also recognises when the car is accelerating quickly and will delay its recommendation accordingly until the engine speed has increased. Comparative tests have shown that vehicles with the Optimum Shift Indicator use around 4 percent less fuel.
Electric Power Steering
Every time the driver steers, energy is consumed. But why should energy be consumed when the wheel is not being turned? BMW Electric Power Steering is only active when it is needed. Unlike conventional hydraulic steering systems, BMW EPS only uses energy when the wheel is actively being turned. When the steering wheel is static e.g. when driving straight ahead along a highway at high speed, the electric motor is inactive.
The entire vehicle design is a testament to the BMW EfficientDynamics philosophy. The optimised, aerodynamic front apron and undercarriage feature innovative improvements that reduce air resistance and fuel consumption.
The front apron is a prominent design feature that embodies the BMW EfficientDynamics philosophy. The integrated Air Curtain channels air through two vertical air inlets and along the front wheel arches. The accelerated air flow creates a kind of "curtain" on the outer side of the wheels. Then there is the Air Breather, which channels the air flow at the front wheels. These innovative technologies reduce turbulence and air resistance, which in turn reduces fuel consumption.
The flat undercarriage cover, which also shields the engine compartment, is an additional detail that greatly improves the car's aerodynamics. These new trim elements are highly advantageous in terms of aerodynamics. They also improve sound insulation and provide greater protection from rust.
Air Breather
The Air Breather is located behind both front wheel arches and is one of the innovations used to optimise the vehicle's aerodynamics. Together with the Air Curtain in the front apron, the Air Breather greatly reduces turbulence and accurately channels the air flow. This decreases air resistance, thereby reducing the vehicle's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The ECO PRO Mode helps drivers reduce their fuel consumption by up to 20 percent, depending on their driving style – according to an internal BMW fuel consumption study.
Another 5 percent can be saved by using the coasting function (only with the 8-speed Automatic Transmission Steptronic) or ECO PRO Route (only with the Navigation System Professional or Business).
ECO PRO Route shows the most efficient route based on the traffic situation, driving style and road conditions. The on-board computer displays the percentage of fuel that can be saved by driving along the route selected by ECO PRO Route.
Thanks to lightweight construction, every gram shed from the vehicle's weight increases driving pleasure. With less weight to move, less energy is required.
BMW has applied this knowledge to vehicle construction since the 1930s, constantly improving along the way. The BMW engineers constantly confront questions like where does it make sense to reduce weight? And where would it be impractical? The result is intelligent lightweight construction. This involves the use of ultra-light materials such as magnesium, aluminium and CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic) in carefully targeted areas of the vehicle.
In petrol engines, BMW TwinPower Turbo technology combines a TwinScroll turbocharger with Valvetronic, including Double-VANOS and High Precision Injection.
In the diesel engines, specially optimised turbocharger technologies are combined with the latest generation CommonRail direct injection and variable turbine geometry. BMW TwinPower Turbo significantly reduces the fuel consumption of BMW petrol and diesel engines, while at the same time boosting power output across a wide range of engine speeds.


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WELLINGTON (AFP) - Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom announced on Monday he will launch a political party in New Zealand to contest next year's elections, drawing a scornful response from Prime Minister John Key.
Mr Dotcom said his plans were still embryonic but the yet-to-be-named party would launch on January 20, the second anniversary of an armed police raid on his Auckland mansion which resulted in him being charged with online piracy.
"WOW! I'm getting so many encouraging messages about my plans for a new political party. Thank you," the 39-year-old tweeted.
The Internet mogul revealed few details of his platform beyond saying he wanted to improve New Zealand's information technology infrastructure, including "fair Internet pricing and no more data caps".
"The party website with information about our vision and candidates will launch with another BIG event on Jan 20, 2014. Second raid anniversary," he said on Twitter.
Mr Dotcom, who denies any wrongdoing and is free on bail as he fights extradition to the United States, also took a swipe at Mr Key, whom he accuses of bowing to Hollywood pressure by pursuing the case against him.
Mr Key, who will be seeking a third term in the 2014 general election, dismissed the move as a stunt and suggested Mr Dotcom name his organisation the "no-hope" party.
"It's like everything we see from the guy, he wants to stay here to fight his extradition treaty, he's got some very good PR people, we'll see how it goes," he told TV3.
Mr Dotcom responded on Twitter: "I don't have PR people. I'm just good at being myself. Try that Mr Key."
He used the hashtag #Gimme5Percent on one of his tweets, referring to the five percent threshold a political party needs under New Zealand's proportional voting system to win representation in parliament.
While Mr Dotcom has New Zealand residency, he is a German national, meaning he cannot be be elected to parliament personally.
But he told technology website torrentfreak.com that his nationality did not prevent him from launching a political party in New Zealand and becoming its president.
"Someone needs to lead New Zealand into the future," he said.
"Unfortunately the current government doesn't know what the future looks like."
Mr Dotcom has become a celebrity in New Zealand during his legal battle. He made number 98 on a Reader's Digest list of New Zealand's 100 most trusted people released in June. Key was ranked 80th.


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2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 - Maximum Boss
Track-testing Steeda's Boss 302 Laguna Seca
These are wonderful times. It seems each year, Ford, Chevy and Dodge set a new mark for American muscle with a slathering of high-performance packages.
This provides buyers a multitude of options. There are screaming colors, sick power and even cars designed to go straight to the track. Clearly, the '12-'13 Boss 302 Mustangs were a hit—they packed enough retro to satisfy the purists and enough grunt to keep modern Mustang fans thrilled—well, most of them.
Ford offered this brute with a fearsome 444hp, naturally aspirated engine with more horsepower than any non-supercharged Ford ever built. Ford also offered a special edition Laguna Seca with improved handling. But still, there are enthusiasts craving the next level.
That's where the crafty folks at Steeda Autosports stepped in to kick one in the tail—and in doing so they improved the Boss for street and track use. "The mindset to do the Boss was that Ford already builds a super car," said Dario Orlando, president of Steeda. "So we wanted to take it to the next level with our coilovers and Watt's link," he added.
"But you don't want to sacrifice ride quality or create NVH on a car like this, or any car," he stated. "You can adjust the corner weights easily for better street performance or for any track. You can weight-jack the car or adjust the dampers, as there are 18 positions on the front and 6 on the rear."
Up front is Steeda's coilover kit, which uses Tokico D-Spec dampers and spring rates designed for all-around performance. To enhance the rear suspension, Steeda went with a Watt's link, one which it designed and tested for optimum performance.
"We spent over a year developing our Watt's link," Orlando stated. "We didn't ruin the integrity of the rear [housing] by attaching the Watt's link to it. As the axle mount position of a Panhard bar rises and falls with suspension motion, the axle moves laterally with respect to the chassis due to the arc described by the Panhard bar's rotation. This, in effect, binds the suspension, preventing it from moving to where load transfer and geometry would like it to be. Therefore, the lower the amount of movement, the better."
"A Watt's linkage nearly eliminates lateral motion in the middle of its operating range," explained Glen Vitale of Steeda. "This reduced amount of lateral motion allows the suspension to react to cornering forces in a more consistent manner. The wheels will be able to track the road more consistently. From a driver's view, the axle will feel better controlled when encountering a bump or dip during a turn. The rear end will feel more connected and stable to the chassis. Because the lateral movement is near zero, the left versus right turn dynamics are effectively the same. Another minor point is that since the axle locates consistently between the wheel wells, a slightly larger tire can be used without fear of rubbing."
In setting up the suspension, Orlando noted the adjustability and how tunable the system of parts can be. "Our rear roll center is fully adjustable. When you raise and lower the roll center you can control body roll and dial in understeer and oversteer. But truly, the customer has to experience it by adjusting it themselves," he added. "Everyone has a different driving style. We offer the components so you can adjust your car to your specific likes. We're not violating the differential system. Attaching [suspension components] to it is bad because it can load the rear cover with torque from the suspension. This puts forces on the diff cover, which can cause a failure."
To give the Boss a meaner look, the stance is lowered and Steeda added HRE P44SC Monoblok billet aluminum wheels (20x9.5 and 20x11 inches), and the rubber that meets the road is grippy Nitto NT05s sized in 275/35ZR20 and 315/35ZR20s.
Tracking The Boss
We put the Steeda Boss Laguna Seca through its paces on a scorcher of a day at Palm Beach International Raceway in Palm Beach, Florida. The 2.034-mile, 11-turn road course is perfect for testing, and enabled us to push the limits of the black beast.
Team MM&FF is always up for a track test, so we jumped at the chance to board this Pony and let it ride. The high-winding Boss mill was enhanced with a Steeda cold-air inlet and a performance calibration. This bumped output to 412 rwhp and provided a nice enhancement at the touch of the electronic throttle pedal.
After a few warm-up laps, we slapped the Pony in the tail and the next 30 minutes brought pure enjoyment. The Steeda-ized Boss was fast, and really easy to drive at the limit. "We tuned our front lower control arms to the EPAS to eliminate shake and we installed a bump steer kit to parallel the lower arm to the tie rod end," said Orlando. "We also added a strut mount (caster/camber plate) with a flat needle bearing isolated in urethane to give you a better ride, along with virtually eliminating steering knock-back." What I found was quick and comfortable feel and turn-in, and a nice balance in the corners and under braking.
Any complete car will have a suspension designed as one system and Steeda's also includes an adjustable upper third-link in the rear, Tokico D-Spec dampers, billet lower trailing arms with relocation brackets, X11 ball joints up front, a Steeda bumpsteer kit, and a competition front and rear adjustable sway bar. This Boss also included a Tri-Ax shifter and enhanced shifter bracket bushing, high-output coils, a billet oil separator, and an axle-back exhaust.
While the Steeda ate up the PBIR track, we found it to be friendly on the public highways, providing a seriously sporty ride that was livable for daily driving. "After a day at the track, you can simply adjust the dampers to a softer setting for the street that offers a compliant, comfortable ride," Orlando adds.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." ~ H.L. Mencken
Creeping Totalitarianism
Exclusive to STR
In the past decade, public smoking bans in America have become increasingly commonplace; governmental efforts to institute such bans often prove successful, primarily because the majority of Americans do not smoke. In other words, the majority can only gain from such legislation. Supporters reason that they should not have to inhale second-hand smoke every time they patronize the local bar. This argument is seemingly sound; most ban backers this author has encountered do indeed provide this justification when endeavoring to legitimize their views. Once effective counterarguments are rendered, however, supporters often change the foundation in which their ban advocacy initially appeared to be rooted. They then contend that employers have a responsibility to provide a smoke-free environment for their employees. Neither justification is well-reasoned. Moreover, it is unambiguous that public smoking bans are incompatible with private property rights.
If one does not wish to inhale cigarette smoke when he goes for a weekend outing, then that individual can opt to visit a non-smoking establishment. A private business, contrary to popular opinion, is private property. The owner of the business is entitled to run it in any manner she desires. It seems many believe that because a private business caters to the "public," the business is public property (i.e., the property of government oligarchs). Accordingly, they think, it is appropriate for the authorities to institute and enforce public smoking bans. Since when does setting foot on private premises render you the owner of those premises?
No one is forced to visit a particular bar, restaurant, club, etc. Many counter that they wish to patronize a town watering hole, but all local holes permit smoking. These irrationalists fail to appreciate the simple fact that the very existence of these businesses is merely a side effect of the business owners pursuing their self-interest. That is, they aren't selling you those Bud Lights to make you happy, but rather to get your money. The business owner, given that she is a maximizer of profit (evil capitalist!), will implement a smoking ban if economic conditions are such that it is profitable to do so. The absence of such a ban should illuminate the fact that it is nothing of the sort. Top-down public smoking bans are a blatant violation of business owners' property rights, allowing the masses (non-smokers) to essentially seize control over private property. If smoking is occurring in a bar and you voluntarily enter that bar, then you should accept the obvious consequence of doing so: breathing smoke. Your desire not to, even if the vast majority of your fellow citizens feel similarly, does not constitute a valid justification for government encroachment upon private property rights.
The other contention, that employees are entitled to a smoke-free workplace, occasions similar counterarguments. No individual is forced to work at any specific business. When one applies for a job at a smoking establishment, he should be prepared to inhale smoke when on the job. If he does not like it, he is free to seek employment elsewhere.
At this point some assert that every individual is entitled to a smoke-free workplace regardless of where he opts to work. A slight smile crosses this author's face when one plays this card. As a consequence of one's advocacy of this notion, one must support banning smoking in private households. After all, the plumber, the painter, and the interior designer who make house calls are entitled to a smoke-free environment. "That's ridiculous, we don't want that!", they shoot back. On the contrary: the logical policy implication of this argument would in fact be a ban on smoking in every place where individuals work: private residences, parks, city streets, etc. In other words: a universal smoking ban. Is that compatible with the principles of a free society?
The lesson to be drawn from this phenomenon is profound. It seems to this author that his fellow citizenry is all too ready to accept governmental usurpation of private property as long as they benefit from it. Such support, however, opens the floodgates to further controls. Many of these will inevitably be measures that smoking ban supporters are not particularly fond of. The principle that legitimizes public smoking bans in supporters' eyes, however, is as follows: governmental encroachment upon private property rights is valid if it makes me happy. One's acceptance of this principle constitutes forfeiture of one's right to protest increasingly invasive and decreasingly popular legislation.
(5 votes)
ws (not verified), posted on February 05, 2010
superb insight ! Surprisingly accurate . WS
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Glen Allport, posted on March 07, 2010
Nicely done column; gets to the root of things. The power elite are thrilled to have people on the "left" and "right" jockeying for a chance to add their own favored tyranny to the mix; when the voters tire of the current party in power and put the opposite wing in charge, the new "leaders" begin adding "their side's" desired tyrannies WITHOUT dismantling the tyranny added by the previous crowd, despite campaign promises.
This ratchet effect ensures that government power grows reliably, year after year. Smoking bans, as Alex points out, are just one example of the process.
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text: If you've ever stumbled upon the Science Channel's show 'How It's Made' then you know the manufacturing process of common and rather mundane items can be fascinating. Well, this Friday, Dec. 28, cine cameras will be featured as one of the items. The episode will be on at 8PM ET. [Read more…]


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Do-over of room tax hike in Jackson
Jackson County commissioners likely erred two weeks ago when they voted to double the county's tax on overnight lodging: they failed to hold a public hearing first.
Commissioners were forced to rescind their vote, and will now hold a public hearing Nov. 7.
Commissioners had voted 4-1 to bump the room tax up from 3 to 6 percent, making it one of the highest in the region. The tax on overnight stays brought in $446,000 last year, which is pumped back in to tourism promotion through the Jackson County Travel and Tourism Authority.
County Attorney Jay Coward had failed to tell commissioners a public hearing was necessary.
Coward, who gets paid $150 an hour for his legal work by the county, explained that he thought Jackson County was exempt under a certain state general statute from the requirement for a hearing.
"Since then, I've decided that we probably ought to have that public hearing in case that was a defect in my reasoning," Coward said.
Related Items
The hearing is most likely an exercise in formality rather than a genuine intent to hearing public opinion, as a do-over of the vote is planned for the same night.
"After the public hearing we'll take it up again," said Commissioner Charles Elders.
Commissioners may get an earful, however.
Henry Hoche of Innisfree Inn By-The-Lake spoke against the doubling of Jackson County's room tax at the county meeting this week. Taxing visitors might seem more attractive than upping property taxes, Hoche said, "but it is not advantageous" to owners of inns and motels. "It is difficult enough for us in the lodging business today."
Hoche said a higher room tax would mean visitors stay in the area for shorter amounts of time.
Bob Dews of Laurelwood Mountain Inn in Cashiers also spoke against an increase, saying the economy has knocked down guest numbers, and inn and motel owners don't need help from the county in knocking rates down even further.
Dews said people would choose to stay elsewhere if the room tax is higher in Jackson than neighboring areas.


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Reforming initial vocational education and training (VET) started in May 2018. The changes will affect one-third of upper-secondary students (665 000) currently enrolled in the vocational stream to prepare a vocational baccalaureate (Bac-pro) or a vocational aptitude certificate (CAP).
According to national statistics, 35% of upper-secondary students enrolled in the vocational pathway (lycée professionnel) are still unemployed seven months after graduation. Employment rates for VET students vary significantly, depending on the type of programme chosen and vocational qualification achieved, from 16% for those having achieved a CAP in trade sales to 60% for those with a Bac-pro in the hotel/catering sector or in hairdressing-aesthetics. The reform aim is to match skill supply and demand better and raise the prestige of VET as a road to excellence, easing transition to work.
Aligning vocational education and training with labour market needs
The main axes of the reform build on recommendations from a recent report commissioned by the Ministry of Education:
- revision of the range of training programmes offered, to lower the number of students enrolling in saturated career fields (such as management administration, one of the top three in terms of student numbers) and to offer more places in VET programmes preparing for jobs in demand (for instance, security or assistance to individuals);
- stronger engagement of social partners in shaping the content of VET curricula in response to the changing nature of professions;
- giving new momentum to the network of campuses of professions and qualifications (campus des métiers et des qualifications), which bring together secondary and higher education institutions, research institutes and companies. The aim is to turn them into unique learning places promoting innovation and know-how in pioneering fields, where partnerships with the regions and businesses can develop.
- expanding apprenticeships in all vocational high schools, which alternate periods of classroom-based learning with in-company training.
Fostering academic success and professional integration for students
Career guidance is being strengthened in the vocational stream. In the first year classes are built around fifteen professional areas (familles de métiers) so students get an insight into a specific area of the economy; they only select their specialisation (from 100 occupation fields) in the second year.
Basic skills (French and mathematics) will be assessed in the first year of studies through a placement test to identify learning needs. General and vocational subjects will be better inter-connected; for instance, courses may be taught jointly in the classroom by the respective teachers (as in mathematics and mechanics). Project-based learning is encouraged; an individual or collective project (chef d'oeuvre) is an integral part of the Baccalaureate programme.
Career development support will also be stepped up, with two modules offered in the final year of studies for students to select from: the module insertion professionnelle for those wishing to enter working life; and the module poursuite d' étude for those pursuing studies at higher level.
The pathways leading to a CAP will be more personalised, with a possible duration of one, two or three years depending on the students' profiles and needs (compared to two currently).
The reform will be implemented gradually, starting from the 2018-19 school year.
Read more:
Presentation of the reform on the website of the Ministry of National Education, 'Transforming vocational high school: training talent for the professions of tomorrow'
Ministry of Education - DEPP, information note No 18.09, le diplôme reste déterminant dans l'insertion des lycéens professionnels, May 2018


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The 9 symbolises accomplishment, ultimate fulfilment, transcendence and completion. It is synonymous with humanity, self-sacrifice and altruism. It is associated with the elements of fire and water, and in analogy with the planet Neptune, the signs of Sagittarius, Pisces, the ninth house in astrolog…
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The 4 symbolises spirit entering into matter. It's the square - image of stability, power and construction. It represents work, labour, service and sometimes a certain rigidity or narrow-mindedness. It is associated with the element of earth, the planet Saturn, the signs of Taurus and Capricorn, the…
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The 5 symbolises evolution, freedom, change and pleasure. It is synonymous with sensuality and adaptability. In addition, it is associated with the element of air, the planets Mars and Mercury, and in analogy with the sign of Aquarius and sometimes Aries, the fifth house in astrology and the sanguin…
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Means "what God has given" or "gift of God" in Igbo.
Who is she?
is an emotional, sensitive and nervous individual who seeks the company of others. While she is quite idealistic, she never completely loses her grip on reality and her feet remain firmly planted on the ground. Her imagination is extremely rich and contributes, for the most part, to making up for the dissatisfaction that she feels with her everyday life. Nevertheless,
is also capable of organisation, pursuing her dreams and achieving her objectives. She is very likely to be fascinated by music and poetry, humanitarian causes and the irrational; and although she sometimes allows herself to drift into pleasant day-dreams, she is also constructive and materialistic. She could be rather disconcerting due to the influence of two antagonistic tendencies that co-exist in her personality. Indeed, from the exterior she could appear easy-going, careless or even superficial; because she is impulsive and says exactly what she thinks. However this is definitely not the case, and just when you least expect it she can be aloof, curt and distant. This is a woman who is extremely attached to her independence. Likewise, her attitude is just as perplexing with regards to orderliness; one day she could be very fussy, discreet, tidy and organized (particularly if she was born on a 4th, 13th, 22nd or 31st; or of she has a
Life Path Number
of 4); while the next she could be caught in flagrante delicto of contradiction with her own values, lax, disorganized and spending money as if it was going out of fashion (especially if she was born on the 5th, 14th or 23rd day of the month, or if her
Life Path Number
is 5)...
is often a varied and colourful character! Generally active and focused, her weak point is irrefutably her very sensual and emotional nature. She is easily shaken by emotional disappointment, which can make her shut herself off from painful reality and other people. As a little girl, she shouldn't present a problem for her parents as long as the atmosphere at home is harmonious. If this isn't the case, she could lose interest in her school work and precociously seek the affection she requires by recklessly throwing herself into the arms of the first male who shows an interest in her. She may also attempt to escape through day-dreams and fantasy or refusing restriction. An artistic hobby would be highly beneficial, as would any activity that enables her to share and exchange with others.
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What does she like?
She seeks stability and security, however she is often tempted by adventure, travel and all kinds of pleasure. She appreciates nature and all that is natural, animals and the countryside. In matters of the heart, she is quite ambivalent: romantic, sensual and idealistic, but also very down to earth, she could even be a little afraid of love. She may be accused of modesty, reserve, coldness and indifference; but
is actually an extremely sensitive soul.
What does she do?
isn't cut out for inactivity and is likely to choose a career doing something that she enjoys... In the first instance she will be attracted to occupations in connection with the social, medical or paramedical fields, activities related to broadcasting, sales, those involving contact with the public or in connection with nature, animals and the land; as well as occupations requiring order and method.
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text:
Joshua Tree spider species named for U2's Bono
It appeared Bono and arachnids didn't mix when his "Spider-Man" musical had a rough Broadway run, but that didn't keep a biologist from naming an actual spider species after the U2 singer.
Jason Bond of Alabama's Auburn University has identified 33 new species of trapdoor spider, including three of them in the California desert at Joshua Tree National Park. The park's namesake is featured in the title and cover of U2's 1987 album, "The Joshua Tree."
The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports that Bond named two of the spiders after Indian tribes and one, A. bonoi, after Bono.
Bond has named other spider species after Angelina Jolie, Cesar Chavez and Stephen Colbert.
The trapdoor spider, found in the Southwestern U.S., is so-named because it makes a hatch to hide from prey.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Bureau of Industry and Security
U.S. Department of Commerce
Remarks of Eric L. Hirschhorn,
Under Secretary for Industry and Security
BIS Annual Update Conference
August 31, 2010
Good morning, and welcome to BIS's twenty-third annual Update conference. Let me first thank Bernie Kritzer, Kirsten Mortimer and her staff, and the many BIS and U.S. government colleagues who have contributed to this conference.
I'd like to introduce the BIS management team. Please stand when I call your name. We have Assistant Secretaries David Mills and Kevin Wolf, Deputy Under Secretary Dan Hill, Chief of Staff Sharon Yanagi, Deputy Assistant Secretaries Matt Borman and Rob Luzzi, our incoming Deputy Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, Don Salo, Director of Administration Gay Shrum, and Chief Information Officer Eddie Donnell.
This year, BIS's day-to-day administration of the EAR must be considered against the backdrop of President Obama's export control reform initiative. This extraordinary effort has been overseen by the White House on a daily basis. Its champions include the three key cabinet secretaries principally responsible for reviewing export license applications—Secretary Locke, Secretary Clinton, and Secretary Gates. I would especially like to thank Brian Nilsson of the National Security Council staff for his important contributions. Much credit also is due to the agency representatives who serve on the Task Force that has done much of the actual work.
Once we have implemented a reformed export control mechanism, I expect to see a system based on three overarching principles—three "E"s, if you will. These are efficiency, education, and enforcement.
An effective export control system must protect U.S. national security. This means military security—first and foremost—but that is not all. As General James Jones, the President's National Security Advisor, has declared, "The future of the United States's national security in the 21st century is our competitiveness." Unfortunately, our regulations can undermine national security if they're unduly complicated and burdensome. That encourages foreign customers to seek foreign suppliers and American companies to seek foreign partners who aren't subject to U.S. export controls. If we over control, we risk diverting our licensing and enforcement resources from the most significant items and the most dangerous end users.
Our approach rests on two fundamental principles: First, the rules should be transparent and predictable. Second, we must have streamlined processes and higher fences to control sensitive items appropriately while facilitating exports of less sensitive items to destinations and end users that don't pose substantial national security, proliferation, or similar concerns.
Let me start with the first principle—transparent and predictable regulations.
The Commerce Control List generally controls items based on technical parameters. Items not meeting a specified threshold are not subject to control. There typically is no corresponding technical basis, though, for determining when an item is subject to the U.S. Munitions List. Instead, the USML relies heavily on the concept of "design intent," even where the function of an item may not be uniquely military. The vehicle pivot arms and brake pads mentioned by Secretary Locke offer good examples of how that concept works in practice.
Our system should make clear when an item, regardless of the intent of its designers, is subject to control. As Secretary Locke has indicated, we are restructuring the USML and, where necessary, the CCL, to create "positive lists" of controlled items.
We are beginning by turning Category VII of the USML into a positive list of tanks, military vehicles, and elements of such goods that warrant control as defense articles. The results, as Secretary Locke reported, have been excellent. BIS and our colleagues from State and Defense soon will conduct similar reviews of the other USML and corresponding CCL categories.
Additionally, we will divide each control list into a three-tiered structure, with licensing policies corresponding to the specific tiers. We anticipate that as technology advances over time, items will drop to lower tiers or off the control list altogether.
Other initiatives that will lead to a more streamlined system will include (1) harmonizing definitions across all the export control regulations, (2) rationalization, and (3) merging export control I.T. systems.
Our work on harmonizing definitions is in its early stages. The encryption rule we published in June exemplifies the second initiative—rationalization. Its goal is to give us useful data about encryption products while providing a more efficient review process. This regulation demonstrates that it's possible to enhance national security while increasing the competitiveness of U.S. companies.
EAR license applications are reviewed by State, Energy, and Defense as well as by Commerce. Currently the four departments use different I.T. systems, have access to different data, and can't directly communicate among one another. This soon will change. We and our sister agencies are developing a single I.T. system that will allow free and immediate data-sharing. Defense is currently using this system, State will begin doing so early next year, Commerce should be on board later in 2011, and other agencies will follow.
For now, the industry interfaces for license applications will continue to be D-Trade for USML items and SNAP-R for CCL items. When the control lists are combined in Phase III, we expect to have a single application form that is linked to the common I.T. system.
Our second efficiency principle is to establish streamlined processes and higher fences—to control items requiring review while facilitating exports of less sensitive items to destinations that don't pose significant national security concerns. As the new control lists are created, we will tailor our licensing policies to focus on the most sensitive items and on destinations and end-users of concern. We are preparing a regulatory proposal that would provide more flexible licensing authorizations as we move down the tiers.
At the same time, we will expect more of companies that benefit from these streamlined licensing policies. The more sensitive the item, the more intensive should be the controls. These higher fences will include more frequent end-use checks and may, in some instances, require identifying markings on items subject to reexport controls.
BIS will closely scrutinize Automated Export System transactions to ensure that exporters are complying with the EAR. We may require foreign consignees to provide end-use assurances against diversion and similar undertakings from, or at least notification to, subsequent purchasers. We will be stepping up outreach, domestically and abroad.
Finally, the Administration is preparing legislation that would combine the administrative enforcement and licensing activities of BIS, the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, and the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control into an independent licensing agency. We will seek action on this legislation in the near future.
This sold-out Update conference demonstrates the exporting community's abiding interest in compliance. In addition to outreach publications, seminars, and one-on-one counseling, the Bureau in recent years has expanded its effort to include such cutting edge strategies as on-line training and webinars. Yet we need to spread the word even further—particularly to those who may not even realize they're subject to controls.
Every exporter must classify its exports and should screen its customers against such lists as the Denied Persons List and the Entity List. BIS has a responsibility to assist exporters, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to do this. To that end, we are mining Automated Export System data to identify exporters of interest. We are working with other bureaus and agencies, and with such private sector entities as freight forwarders, to educate exporters. We are employing such outreach techniques as foreign language seminars and CommerceConnect. Moreover, we continue to work with the Census Bureau and Customs and Border Protection on new electronic tools to help exporters make timely and accurate submissions to AES. This will expedite the clearance of exports and facilitate our compliance reviews.
Concurrently with licensing efficiencies and education efforts, enforcement will become an even higher priority. I already have discussed some actions we are taking to erect higher fences. Let me mention several additional enforcement initiatives.
The new Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act confers permanent law enforcement authorities on our export enforcement agents for the first time. This enhances our ability to deter and prosecute violators of the EAR.
To ensure coordination with other enforcement agencies, we participate in the National Export Enforcement Coordination Network. Working with colleagues from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, military security agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Intelligence Community, we are sharing information and leveraging resources. As the President told you a few minutes ago, he soon will issue an executive order making this coordination center permanent. The order will mandate participation by all relevant law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community.
At the same time, we recognize that even companies who have good intentions can make mistakes. We long have promoted the submission of voluntary self-disclosures (VSDs) in these and other instances. We view VSDs, along with internal compliance programs, as important mitigating factors.
Given the volume of exports and reexports that are subject to the EAR, we must rely upon industry for the bulk of compliance. You are the front-line troops in that effort. You and your co-workers know your products, their end-uses, and your customer base.
I ask that you carry a message back to your senior management and those who market your products: We are working to create a more efficient export control system and to ensure that those subject to it are aware of that fact. Also, where appropriate, we will seek to minimize penalties for companies that have good internal compliance programs and make demonstrably unintentional errors. But—and this is an important but—we are planning increased efforts against individuals who flout the rules and against companies whose inadequate internal compliance programs tell us that they are indifferent to whether they follow the rules.
Finally, I mentioned that the proposed single licensing agency would include the administrative enforcement functions of BIS, the Department of State, and the Treasury Department. The Administration also plans to seek legislation to transfer BIS's criminal enforcement functions to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which would have a separate unit dedicated to enforcement of the export control and embargo laws.
Defense Industrial Base Activities and Treaty Compliance
No discussion of BIS activities would be complete without addressing our vital role in supporting national security through defense industrial base-related programs and treaty compliance activities. I'm going to offer a few words about developments in the former area and Kevin Wolf will talk about the latter.
A core mission of the Bureau is to help ensure the health of our defense industrial base—which, as General Jones and Secretary Gates have noted, is essential to ensuring that our military men and women have the cutting-edge technologies they need.
BIS has four core programs aimed at supporting the defense industrial base: studies, priorities and allocation, foreign acquisition reviews, and advocacy. Recent and current studies cover such diverse topics as the impact of counterfeit electronics on weapons system reliability, the impact of Space Shuttle termination on the domestic economy, the effect of controls on green technology exports, and dependence on foreign suppliers in critical sectors.
In the priorities area, we recently have issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for a Defense Priorities and Allocations System regulation. The new rule will implement recent amendments to the Defense Production Act.
Our participation in the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews foreign acquisitions of United States businesses, continues to be frequent and vigorous.
Finally, we contribute to the defense trade advocacy process and recently updated our regulation on reports of defense trade offsets.
Before I conclude, I'd like to put in a plug for the President's Export Council's Subcommittee on Export Administration, or PECSEA. Our August 6 Federal Register notice seeks members for this high-level, policy-oriented group—which, by the way, is an active working committee that advises the Commerce Department and the Administration on key export control issues. We're particularly interested in industry people at the CEO, COO, or Senior Vice Presidential level, as well as in having a diverse group of members. The notice expires in a few days, so please don't tarry.
As you heard earlier, President Obama is committed to export control reform. We and our colleagues in sister agencies are committed, too. These actions will increase our national security and enhance U.S. competitiveness. We will accomplish these reforms through more efficient regulatory processes, enhanced outreach to exporters and reexporters, and better focused compliance and enforcement activities.
Thank you for your attention. I hope you find our Update program informative.


text:
Miami – In the past few weeks, Gov. Rick Scott has traveled around the state extolling the accomplishments of the recent legislative session and promoting his success in pushing Florida down a more conservative, financially sound path.
So why is his approval rating the lowest of any governor in America?
"I don't think about it," Mr. Scott said in a brief interview when asked about his 29 percent approval rating in a Quinnipiac University poll conducted in May. More alarming for the governor: his negative rating has soared from 22 percent in February shortly after he entered office to 57 percent, suggesting that the more Floridians get to know him, the less they like him.
Mr. Scott, however, chalks up the numbers to his agenda. "Everybody's scared about change," he said. "I'm going to make the tough decisions because I know, long-term, they pay off. But, you know, short-term, everybody is worried about change."
The promise of wholesale changes appealed to Florida voters, who overlooked Mr. Scott's lack of experience and propelled him into the Governor's Mansion last year as a Tea Party darling. But within six months of Mr. Scott's swearing-in, many Floridians seem to have soured on the governor, an unflinching former health insurance executive whose leadership style strikes some as remote and uncaring.
Mr. Scott's sinking popularity has Republican politicians and some strategists worried that his troubles could hamper their chances of tilting the state's 29 electoral votes back into their column in 2012. President Obama won Florida by 2.8 percentage points in 2008.
Republican Senate and House candidates are also worrying, strategists say, that the governor's rapidly declining popularity will affect their chances of winning election. And in Miami, two Republican candidates for mayor have distanced themselves from the governor.
State Senator Mike Fasano, Republican of New Port Richey, has verbally tussled with Mr. Scott and his staff. "If the election was held right now, he would have no impact or a negative impact — there's no question about it," he said.
Mr. Scott's unpopularity is mostly rooted in his aggressive push for large cuts in the budget and the public-sector work force, his decision to reject $2.4 billion in federal money for a high-speed rail project, and the dismissive and even abrasive way he deals with those who disagree with him or ask a lot of questions.
He also promised to create many jobs, and it has been the mantra of his tenure so far. But the state's unemployment rate, down from a high of 11.9 percent, is still at 10.6 percent, one of the highest rates in the country. Despite the governor's efforts to woo out-of-state corporations to the Sunshine State, the companies have not come in droves.
The economy also continues to reel from a shell-shocked real estate market and a push by some national Republicans to revamp Medicare, a frightening prospect for any Florida politician, given the age of so many of its residents.
"Scott is still not well known in Florida," said Bob Graham, a former governor and United States senator. "Everything he does is somewhat of a new revelation on what his positions are going to be. And so far, many Floridians have found the things he has done highly objectionable."
Brian Burgess, a spokesman for Mr. Scott, said another recent poll did not have approval ratings as low as the Quinnipiac poll.
"At the end of the day, what matters is who has a plan to create jobs," Mr. Burgess said. "We like how we stack up against the national economic trend. He inherited a high unemployment rate, and it's gone down every month."
On the Democratic side, Mr. Scott's slump may have given frustrated Democrats a reason for optimism in Florida, although they are reluctant to predict how it might affect the 2012 election.
In recent months, Mr. Obama has visited the state three times, and his trip to Puerto Rico this month, the first official visit by an American president in a half-century, was undoubtedly meant to win favor with Florida's rapidly growing Puerto Rican population.
"Rick Scott is the reason the state will be competitive for Barack Obama," said Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer and a longtime Democratic fund-raiser and strategist.
Mr. Berger said the governor was politically tone-deaf, pointing as evidence to the chaos at a signing ceremony for the state's $69.1 billion budget late last month at The Villages in Sumter County. Some Democrats said that they were removed from the event by sheriff's deputies, on orders of Mr. Scott's aides. News reports said that sheriff's deputies told the expelled Democrats that the event was "private."
Mr. Scott has had other difficulties. The Republican-dominated Legislature failed to approve an Arizona-style immigration package, one of the cornerstones of the governor's legislative agenda and a major issue for the Tea Party.
And many voters have blanched at a number of his legislative accomplishments, particularly a new state budget that puts thousands of state employees and teachers out of work and requires public workers to start paying part of their salary to cover pension costs.
Mr. Scott's staff appears to be trying to counter the negative press. His senior aides set up a way for people to send a prewritten letter of praise for the governor to seven Florida newspapers. The letter, sent by a click on Mr. Scott's Web site, was written by members of his campaign team.
"While politicians usually disappoint us and rarely keep their promises," the letter reads, "Rick is refreshing because he is keeping his word. His policies are helping to attract businesses to our state and get people back to work."
Mr. Berger, the Fort Lauderdale lawyer, said Mr. Scott's distance from the state press corps was hurting his reputation.
"Rick Scott thought he didn't need the press to get elected or to govern," Mr. Berger said.
"And the press is portraying him in a very bad light."
In recent days, the pressures on Mr. Scott have led to an overhaul in his office. His chief of staff, Mike Prendergast, is leaving, and Mary Anne Carter, a senior aide who was a top strategist for his campaign, has resigned. Late last week, Mr. Scott hired a new chief of staff, Steve MacNamara, who was most recently the chief of staff and general counsel to the Florida Senate president.
Several Republican strategists said they felt confident that Mr. Scott's early missteps would not affect the results of the Florida presidential primary, and would have only a limited impact on other Republicans running for office in Florida.
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"Rick Scott could be at zero percent approval, and if unemployment is at 10.5 percent or 11 percent, then Barack Obama is not getting re-elected," said Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist working for Adam Hasner in the United States Senate race in Florida.
For his part, Mr. Graham, the former Florida senator and governor, said a crucial question would be whether Republican candidates sought out Mr. Scott's endorsement and support before Florida's presidential primary.
"That will be an early, interesting indicator of whether voters in Florida think he's toxic," Mr. Graham said. "Regardless of how that goes, I believe Barack Obama is going to be re-elected and win Florida on his own — not because a state official has fallen in public approval."
Don Van Natta Jr. reported from Miami, and Gary Fineout from Tallahassee, Fla.